Engine starting mechanism



Dec. 19, 193:5.

H. HAAS ENGINE STARTING MECHANISM 'Filed May 25, 1932 w 2a A l l l l l l f k 39 37 TO IGNITION SYSTEM INVENTOR.

Harold Haas Patented Dec. 19, 1933 UNITED STATES ENGlNE STARTING MECHANISM Harold Haas, Arlington, N. J asslgnor, by m'esne assignments, to Eclipse Aviation Corporation, East Orange, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 25, 1932. Serial No. 613,505

10 Claims. (Cl. 290- 38) This invention relates to engine starting mechanism and more particularly to means for controlling both the energization of such astarting mechanism and the establishment of driving.

0 connection between the mechanism and the engine to be started.

An object of the invention is to provide means for effecting both the energization and establishment of driving connection as inter-related, properly timed steps functioning automatically in response to the performance of a single initiatory act on the part of the operator.

Although the invention as herein disclosed and claimed has major usefulness when applied to 70 the energization and control of starting mechanism of the inertia type, it is also applicable, in modified forms within the scope of the present disclosure, to starting mechanism lacking either wholly or partly the inertia principle of operation.

In many types of engine starting devices, it is desirable to provide mechanism which is normally disengaged from the engine to be started, but shiftable into engagement therewith by means functioning more or less independently of the prime actuating instrumentalities of the starter. In other types, even though the engine engaging or meshing action is not actually independent of the starter energizing action, it

' 85 is nevertheless effected by positive means not dependent upon the rotation of the starter itself for accomplishing the meshing function. Thus, for example, in many types of automobile starters there is employed a so-called manual shift in which a pinion, or equivalent engine engaging member, is shifted to the working position by a lever or other means under the control of the operator even before any rotation of the starter prime mover. In other cases, as for example, in engine starters of the inertia type, such as that disclosed in the-Lansing Patent No. 1,833,948, electromagnetic means distinct from the starter prime mover serve to actuate the engine engaging clutch entirely independently of and in fact only after such prime mover has been entirely de-energized. That is, the prime mover (shown as an electric motor in the aforesaid Lansing patent, and similarly shown 105 in the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention) is first energized for a period of time suflicient to accelerate the starter flywheel (constituting the inertia element of the device) to the desired speed, whereupon switch mechanism 110 is manually operative to de-energize the motor and at the same time energize a solenoid which actuates the engine engaging clutch.

The present invention constitutes an improvement on the controlling means and method of operation of the above identified patent in the sense that instead of requiring the two distinct manual acts above described, the electrical connections to the starter motor and the meshing solenoid are so inter-related that both operate in proper time relation, and automatically in response to a single manual act of inaugurating the operation by the closure of the primary or pilot circuit.

Other objects of the invention are to provide novel and improved means for controlling the operation of the electrical parts employed in a device of the'class described, and in the specific construction and inter-relation of such parts, while further objects will appear more fully from an examination of the/following detailed description when read with reference to the accompanying drawing showing one embodiment of the present invention It is to be understood, however, that the drawing is merely illustrative and is not designed to so indicate the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appendedv claims.

In the drawing there is shown a representation, partly in section and partly in outline, of one type of engine starting mechanism to which the present invention is applicable, together with a schematic representation of the electrical parts and control means therefor.

Referring to the drawing, the starter mechanism is shown as embodied in a casing 4, wherein is rotatably mounted an inertia element or flywheel 5 which may be automatically rotated by an electric motor 6, or which may be manually rotated by means of a shaft 7. flfhe fiy-' wheel is adapted to drive a clutch member 8 through suitable mechanism mounted in housing 4, and when said flywheel has been brought to a sufilciently high speed of rotation, clutch member 8 is adapted to be thrown into engagement with a corresponding clutch member 9 provided on the shaft 10 of the engine to be started. Theconnections between the flywheel 5 and the driven member 11 shown splined to the rearwardly extending hollow portion of the clutch member 8 may be of any desired form including reduction gearing and torque limiting clutch mechanisms as illustrated and described ingreater detail in Fig. 4 of the Lansing patent above identified.

The starting mechanism shown herein embodies a lever 12 adapted to be actuated, while the flywheel is rotating at a sufficiently high speed, to throw member 8 into engagement with the engine shaft, whereby the energy stored in the flywheel is effective to start said engine. As in the aforesaid Lansing patent, the present invention preferably utilizes means for electrically actuating lever 12 after the inertia element or flywheel 5 has been brought to a proper speed. In the form shown, said means includes a housing 13 integral with, or secured to the main housing 4 of the starter. Housing 13 encloses solenoid mechanism including a rod or shaft 14 extending within solenoid winding 1'! to connect with a magnetizable core or plunger 18 adapted to be moved toward the center of the winding 17 upon energization thereof and thus produce a longitudinal movement of the rod 14 to the left and a corresponding shifting of the clutch 8 into meshing engagement with the member 9.

Instead'of controlling the electrical energization of the winding 17 by means operated manually after the motor 6 has been energized, the

present invention, as above explained, provides electrical means operating automatically after the energization of the motor 6 has proceeded for a predetermined period, as reflected in the degree of acceleration of the flywheel 5. As shown by way of preference in the schematic portion of the drawing, such means takes the form of an electro-magnetic relay 22 adapted when energized by a current of suflicient E. M. F. for the purpose, to produce a magnetic field strong enough to draw the armature 23 into electrical engagement with the contact 24 against the opposition of a spring 25, and-thus complete an electrical circuit from a suitable source 26 through leads 54, 57, 37, 28, 29 and 30 to the winding 17, the circuit returning by way of conductors 31, 32 and 38. In order to properly time the actuation of the armature 23 with the acceleration of the flywheel 5, so that the mesh- -ng action will be produced only after suflicient energy has been stored, I propose to connect the energizing windings of the motor 6 in shunt with the winding of the relay 22, so that the magneto-motive-force of the latter will be at first, insufficient to immediately attract the armature 23, but will build up proportionately with the rise in voltage across the motor terminals 35 and 36, such voltage rise being in turn proportionate to the acceleration of the flywheel 5. That is, as the load upon the motor decreases with the increase in speed of the flywheel and the parts connected therewith, it follows that the current drawn by the motor from the source 26 decreases proportionately and accordingly the voltage across the terminals 35 and 36 increases correspondingly. Now in order to make the voltage across the conductors 28 and 32 subject to the same rate of increase, the said conductors 28 and 32 are shunted across the conductors 37 and 38 leading to the motor terminals 35 and 36, the shunt connections being indicated at 39 and 40 respectively. With this construction it is apparent that the voltage rise across the terminal leads 3'1 and 38 will be reflected by a proportionate voltage rise across the relay 22, so that at the predetermined point the armature 23 will be attracted to energize the clut'h controlling solenoid 17. v

Suitable means for initiating the action is indicated in the form of a push key 42 having formed at its inner insulated end a contact piece 43 adapted to bridge a pair of fixed contacts 44 and 45; the switch being self-opening by reason of the provision of a spring 46 operative to retract the contact 43, when released by the operator. As shown, the contacts 44 and 45 control the circuit to a relay 48 having a pair of armatures 49 and 50 both normally urged to the open circuit positions by suitable means 51 and 52, respectively, and both adapted to be attracted by the magnetic effect of the energization of the relay, the armatures 49 and 50 thus coacting to close a circuit through the conductors 54 and 3'7, the circuit being effective to energize the motor; the current passing by way of conductors 54, armature 49, conductor 57, armature 50, and conductor 37 to the motor; the circuit being completed by the return conductor 38. Associated with relay 22 is a second armature 59 normally held in engagement with the contact 60 by means 61, but adapted to be withdrawn therefrom by the magnetic effect created when the voltage across the relay 22 becomes sufficient. Preferably the design of the relay is such that the armatures 59 and 23 will be attracted at substantially the same instant, thus limiting the period of energization of the solenoid 17 to a brief moment of just sufficient duration to insure movementof the clutch 8 into engagement with the engine member 9.

Having thus described the parts entering into the preferred embodiment of the invention as shown, the operation will be seen to be as follows:

Upon closure of the switch 43, current is caused to pass to the motor 6 through the 0011- nections above traced to accelerate the flywheel 5. After the flywheel has been brought to the proper speed, the resulting increase in voltage across the winding of relay 22 is effective to close the circuit above traced, to the solenoid 17, and thus effect driving connection between the members 8 and 9, whereupon the energy of the flywheel is effective to start the engine. At the same time, the holding circuit of the relay 48 is opened at the point 59 and the resultant collapse of the magnetic field of relay 48'renders spring 52 effective to open the switch 50, thus (ls-energizing both the motor and the relay 22. A brief moment later the collapse of the magnetic field about the relay 22 permits spring 25 to open the switch 23, thus de-energizing the .solenoid 17. After the engine starts under its own power and the speed of rotation of jaw 9 becomes greater than the speed of jaw 8, the tendency of the latter to be driven, and the threaded connection between the nut (not shown) and threaded shaft 11 results in the return of jaw 8 and said shaft to demeshing position (the solenoid being now de-energized). The usual spring (not shown) is effective to return rod 14 to normal position.

If desired, in order to prevent over-heating of the coil 48 in the event that the battery voltage is insuflicient to fully energize the relay 22, a cut-out switch 62 may be inserted in the cir-- cuit to the coil 48. As shown, such cut-out may be the usual ignition switch.

There is thus provided novel means whereby an engine starter may be quickly energized and thereafter thrown into mesh with ,the engine to be started, said means being so constituted that the internal combustion engine and the starter mechanism therefor may be conveniently controlled from a relatively remote sta- H tion, such as the cockpit of an airplane. The M0 invention is not limited to the embodiment'illustrated and described, since various changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the invention defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with engine starting apparatus of the type wherein a driven member is shiftable into engine engaging position, means including an electro-magnetic device for so.shift-' ing said driven member, a circuit including the winding of said electro-magnetic device, a second electro-magnetic device controlling said circuit, means for building up the voltage in the said starting apparatus is accelerated, and means responsive to the development of a predetermined magneto-motive force in said second electro-magnetic device to successively open the circuits to said device and solenoid.

2. In combination with anengine starting apparatus,- of the type wherein a driven member is shiftab'le into engine engaging position, means including an electro-magnetic device for so shifting said driven member," actuating means for said driven member a circuit to said electromagnetic device including an electric motor, and a driving connection interposed between said motor and driven member, means including-a second electro-magnetic device operative to close said circuit, means for building up the voltage in the circuit to said second electromagnetic device in proportion to the voltage rise across the terminals of said motor and means responsive to a predetermined voltage rise to simultaneously de-energize said electromagnetic device and motor.

3. In combination with engine starting apparatus of the type wherein a rotatable inertia member is first actuated in order to store energy therein, and a driven member is thereafter shifted into engine engaging position, the'combination with said inertia and driven member of an electric motor for accelerating said inertia member, an electro-magnetic device for shifting said driven member, means for energizing said electro-magnetic device in response to a predetermined voltage rise in said motor, and means responsive to said. voltage rise to successively de-energize said motor and electromagnetic device.

4,111 combination with engine starting apparatus of the type wherein a rotatable inertia member is first actuated in order to store energy therein and a driven member is thereafter shifted into' engine engaging position, the combination with said inertia member and driven member of an electric motor for accelerating said inertia member and anelectro-magnetic device for shifting said driven member,

' circuits for said motor and electro-magnetic device, and means for energizing said electro-magnetic device in response to a predetermined voltage rise in the circuit to said motor, .said last named means comprising an electro-magnetic relay having an armature disposed in the circuit of said electro-magnetic device, the winding of said relay being connected in shunt with the circuit to said motor and also in shunt with said electro-magnetic device.

5. In combination with an engine starting apparatus of the type wherein a driven member is shifted into engine engaging position, means including an electro-magnetic device for so shifting said driven member, actuating means for said driven member including an electric m0- tor, a circuit to said motor, an electro-magnetic relay in shunt with said motor circuit and also in shunt with said electro-magnetic device, a single manually operable switch for efiecting simultaneous closure of said motor and relay.

circuits, a switch in circuit with said electromagnetic device, and means preventing closure is shifted into engine engaging position, means circuit to said second electro-magnetic device as including electro-magnetic device for so shifting said driven member, actuating means tor said driven member including an electric motor, a circuit to said motor, an electro-magnetic relay in shunt with said motor circuit and op-- closed independently of said manually operable switch, and means for rendering said last named means ineffective to maintain said circuits closed after a predetermined voltage rise therein, said last named means including a normally closed switch, the movable element of which is in the magnetic field of said relay. 1

'7. In combination with an engine starting apparatus of the type wherein a driven member is shiftable into engine engaging position, means including a solenoid for so shifting said driven member, actuating means for said driven member including an electric motor, a circuit thereto, control means for said solenoid including a relay and the circuit to said relay, said circuit being in shunt with said motor circuit and also in shunt with said solenoid, and electro-magnetically controlled means for de-energizing said relay and motor after energization of said solenoid.

8. In combination with an engine starting apparatus of the type wherein a driven member is shiftable into engine engaging position, means including a solenoid for so shifting said driven member, actuating means for said driven member including an electric motor, a circuit thereto, control means for said solenoid including a relay in shunt with said solenoid, and means for delaying energization of said solenoid until development of a predetermined magnetomo-.

means for delaying energization of said electro-magnetic device until development of a predetermined magneto-motive force in said relay, and means responsive to said magneto-motive force to open said motorcircuit.

shunt with said electro-magnetic device, means for delaying energization of said electro-magnetic device until development of a predetermined magneto-motive force in said relay, and means responsive to said magneto-motive force to open said motor circuit, and to simultaneously de-energize said relay.

HAROLD HAAS. 

